Dark Matter: The Art of David Huffman

April 17-August 1, 2004

Berkeley-based David Huffman's compelling paintings, works on paper, and ceramic sculptures offer us a unique glimpse into a powerful alternate world. Huffman's work combines references to Japanese animation and cartoon imagery with powerful social commentary. Huffman describes trauma as being at the core of his work: the pain of slavery and minstrelsy internalized by African Americans for centuries. In Huffman's work, the iconography for this trauma is the minstrel, a figure that populates his work in all media. Featuring paintings, works on paper, site specific-wall drawings, and sculpture, this exhibition will focus on Huffman's recent Dark Matter series. This exhibition is co-curated by Santa Clara University Professor Bridget R. Cooks, Ph.D. and the de Saisset.

Since 1993, David Huffman has been exhibiting his work in California and New York. Most recently, his work was on view at The Studio Museum in Harlem, the Santa Monica Museum of Art, the San Jose Museum of Art, and New Langton Arts. His work has also been featured in solo exhibitions at Patricia Sweetow Gallery in San Francisco. David Huffman received his B.A. and M.F.A. from the California College of the Arts. Huffman is currently a lecturer at Santa Clara University and at the California College of the Arts.